Building on an Island: What You Need to Know

Building a home on an island is a dream for many—but the logistics can quickly turn into a nightmare if you’re not prepared. From transporting materials by barge to dealing with unpredictable weather, island construction presents unique challenges. As a timber frame subcontractor specializing in complex builds, Carolina Timberworks recently completed an island project, and we’re sharing what we learned to help you plan your own remote build.

Why Building on an Island is Different Than the Mainland

At first glance, building a home on an island may seem similar to any other construction project. But in reality, every aspect—from materials to labor to scheduling—requires a different level of planning. Here’s what makes timber frame construction uniquely challenging on an island:

1. Every Stick, Brick, and Person Arrives by Barge

On the mainland, materials roll right off a truck and onto the job site. On an island? Not so much. Every single piece—timbers, nails, tools, even lunch—must be carefully staged, loaded, and ferried across the water. That means no last-minute hardware store runs, no quick resupplies, and no margin for error. The logistics resemble a military operation, requiring precision, planning, and a team that understands the stakes.

2. Forget Something? Prepare for Costly Delays

On a typical job site, a miscut timber or a forgotten handful of ¾” white oak pegs might cost you a day. On an island, that same mistake could set you back a week. There’s no quick trip to the supplier—every extra run across the water depends on barge schedules, tides, and availability, all of which are beyond your control. In remote construction, small problems don’t stay small for long.

3. Rain, Tides, and Isolation Demand Next-Level Logistics

On an island, nature calls the shots. Tides dictate when barges can run. Rain stalls work, but the crew is still on the clock. A passing storm can upend the schedule, while a broken-down barge can ripple delays across the entire project. It takes a certain mindset to thrive in conditions where predictability is a luxury.

4. Food and Lodging: More than Just a Place to Sleep

Getting materials across the water is only part of the challenge—you also have to get the crew there and make sure they’re taken care of. Lodging is rarely luxurious, but it needs to be comfortable enough for a team working long, physically demanding days.

And then there’s food. When the nearest grocery store is miles (and a boat ride) away, you don’t just “grab something” after work. That’s where having a crew member like Tommy makes all the difference. A former restaurant owner, he took charge of meals—wearing gloves, using a thermometer, and treating dinner prep with the same level of care and precision as a timber frame layout. One night, he put together a classic Low Country boil—shrimp, potatoes, corn, and sausage—the kind of meal that makes the challenges of building in a remote location a little more enjoyable, and a lot more memorable.

Why Timber Frames Are Ideal for Island Homes

1. Speed: Faster Assembly, Less Time on Site

On an island, every extra day of construction adds logistical headaches and costs. Timber framing changes the equation. Instead of cutting and fitting each piece on-site, the entire structure is precision-cut in our shop using state-of-the-art CNC machinery. When the timbers arrive, they’re ready to go—slotted together like a giant puzzle by the same crew that fabricated them. What takes months with conventional framing can often be completed in weeks, minimizing time, risk, and weather exposure.

2. Strength: Built to Withstand Nature’s Fury

Island homes don’t just need to be beautiful—they need to be strong. Timber frames are engineered to handle the extreme: hurricane-force winds, heavy storms, and the relentless coastal climate. The interlocking joinery and massive timbers create a structure that is as durable as it is stunning, standing firm where lighter, conventionally framed homes might flex or fail.

3. Timelessness: Built to Last—and Loved for Generations

Timber framing isn’t a trend—it’s a building tradition that has been relied upon for over two thousand years. Long before mass-produced lumber and steel-framed glass boxes, people built with heavy timbers because they worked. These homes don’t just stand the test of time structurally; they endure because people love them. Timber-framed homes are cherished, maintained, and restored rather than torn down for something new. Their warmth, character, and craftsmanship make them worth preserving—whether on an island or anywhere else.

4. Less Waste, More Efficiency

On the mainland, construction waste is an afterthought—just toss it in the dumpster and schedule a pickup. On an island, every scrap of excess material has to be barged back off, turning waste disposal into a costly logistical challenge. Because we pre-cut every timber in our shop, there’s almost zero job-site waste. Fewer cutoffs, no piles of unusable material, and no need for expensive, hard-to-schedule dumpster hauls.

Considering Building on an Island? Here’s What to Know

Island construction isn’t for the faint of heart, but with the right team, it’s absolutely possible. If you’re considering a timber frame home in a remote location, the most important decision you’ll make is choosing experienced professionals who understand the unique challenges involved.

At Carolina Timberworks, we specialize in tackling complex builds—whether on an island, in the mountains, or anywhere that demands more than just the ordinary. Want to talk about your project? Get in touch with us.

Related

• A Primer on Timber Frame Construction
• Timber Frame Truss Ideas
• How to Interview a Timber Frame Company

The post How to Build a Home on an Island: Challenges, Solutions, and Lessons Learned appeared first on Carolina Timberworks.

What Defines a Timber Frame?

A Definition of Beauty and Grace

Traditional timber framing is the art of connecting two or more pieces of timber using wood-to-wood joinery. Before metalworking, this is how timber posts and beams were attached to frame the homes, barns, and businesses our ancestors lived and worked in. Held together without nails, bolts, or metal connectors, the timber frames of old tended to withstand the test of time—lasting centuries instead of decades.

Joinery

Although there are many joinery variations, the mortise and tenon joint has been used to connect pieces of wood for well over 1,000 years. The basic joint comprises two components: the mortise hole and the tenon tongue, locked together by one or more wooden pegs. You’re probably already familiar with mortise and tenon joinery, as you’ll see it in finely made furniture.

Trusses

Trusses are timber frameworks that support a roof (or bridge).  Their primary function is structural (to span distances impractical for solid members), but today are often designed to be aesthetically striking as well. They can also be decorative, and there are many types of timber frame trusses from which to choose.

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)

Structural insulated panels, or SIPs, are a popular way to insulate a timber frame structure. A SIP looks a bit like an ice cream sandwich: two structural OSB (oriented strand board) sheets  “sandwich” a thick layer of foam in the center.

In timber frame structures, SIPs are used on the outside of the timber frame—wrapping the whole frame in a high-performance insulating blanket. This leaves the gorgeous timber frame fully exposed on the inside of the building. 

Like any construction method, there are pros and cons:

1. Here are the main benefits of SIPs buildings: The panels insulate the structure with a higher R-value than you’d get from a standard stick-built structure with stud walls. Comparing 2x stick building to SIPs isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison because a SIP building is a high performance energy-sipping structure which will reduce energy bills for decades. Because the panels arrive from the factory pre-cut and pre-labeled, and because SIPs work as framing, insulation, and exterior sheathing, the building can be erected and in the dry more quickly–thereby reducing the overall time to build, financing costs, mold, and jobsite waste. Incidentally, SIPs do a pretty good job of soundproofing.
2. Naturally SIPs aren’t perfect:  They are more expensive (at least initially) than 2x stick building. Although not difficult to install, most construction personnel have not been trained in SIP installation, and this is not something you want your timber frame builder to learn on your job. Moisture control is important: SIPs are typically made with oriented strand board (OSB) which doesn’t like getting wet. Because wiring (but not plumbing) gets hidden inside exterior walls, holes must be created in the foam for wiring. This is done at the SIP factory and isn’t a big deal except that you need to have your electric plan figured out (where outlets and light switches will go). Finally, foam insulation has a relatively high embodied carbon content compared to other insulation options, and therefore some do not consider foam insulation to be a sustainable building method.  So… what did we do? We built our new timber frame shop using SIPs. Why? We wanted to get our new  building up as quickly as possible, and we rationalized that the energy the super insulated building envelope will save over the coming years will outweigh the higher initial cost and the carbon used in making foam.

Want to deepen your understanding of the timber frame elements showcased here? Visit our Timber Frame Glossary to explore the vocabulary of timber framing.

What Are Timber Frame Buildings?

Timber frame buildings come in all shapes and sizes. From the outside, sometimes it’s impossible to tell that it’s a timber frame (they can be brick or wood-sided just like any other building). Sometimes architects incorporate some timber framing on the exterior (perhaps a timber framed entry) to suggest what’s hidden inside.

Timber Frame Homes

We believe the primary interest in timber framing is the aesthetics and the experience of living in the structures. When thoughtful design and craft work together, these buildings can be built poetry.

You might be surprised to learn that a timber frame home doesn’t have to use this building method exclusively. Many of the timber frame homes we’ve been a part of over the years are hybrid timber frames, which seamlessly combine timber with conventional 2x framing.

Non-Residential Timber Frames

Not only are timber frames wonderful places to come home to, but commercial timber frames (or non-residential as engineers prefer us to call them) are also inspiring and pleasant places to work (and shop).

Timber Frame Kits

Let’s be clear: we believe in custom design because we’ve repeatedly seen the process and end result improve people’s lives. A pre-designed plan or kit is a bit like cultured stone–good from afar, but far from good. Like an off the rack suit, it won’t fit particularly well (you or the land). We came up with our kits as an idea to keep our people working during COVID-19 (if our building was shut down, they could load up their truck with timber and cut a kit at home). We’ve since discontinued our timber frame kits and are happy to discuss custom timber frame projects with you.

Want even more ideas? Here you can find our concept drawings for timber frame structures including a solar panel carport, an RV garage, outdoor pavilions, a boat house, a farmers market, and more.

How Does Timber Frame Construction Compare to Post and Beam and Conventional Construction?

Traditional timber frame techniques rely on beautiful (and sometimes exquisite) wood-to-wood joinery to connect heavy timbers. Traditional timber framing doesn’t use much metal–and what metal is required by engineering, is typically hidden.

Post and beam construction also uses heavy timber, making it similar to timber framing. But the main difference between post and beam construction and timber frame construction is the way the pieces of timber are connected. Post and beam structures rely on metal fasteners like steel plates and bolts.

As an aside, we’re not traditional timber frame purists. We happen to think that steel and timber can be striking:

Conventional construction and stick-built 2×4 and 2×6 structures don’t use heavy timber. They use smaller pieces of lumber connected by nails and metal fasteners, and load-bearing walls provide additional support. 

What Are the Benefits of Timber Framing?

We’re glad you asked. We think there are quite a few advantages of timber framing.

Timber framing is sustainable. About ten years ago we wrote an article (here) about what makes timber framing sustainable, and it’s still widely quoted.

Learn more about the benefits of timber framing with our take on it.

Finally, we’d add that we find timber framing to be a satisfyingly tactile antidote to the virtual world.

A Thousand Years of Craftsmanship

Timber framing has quite a rich history. Centuries ago, builders used timber framing to construct temples in Japan, cathedrals in Europe, and manors in England–many of which still stand today in silent testimony to the durability of timber framing. Go anywhere in New England, peel back a couple of hundred years of remodeling from the original homes and churches, and you’ll discover that they also were timber framed (as were their barns, which often were the first structure a farmer would build).

Timber framing’s popularity declined in the early 1800s for practical reasons. Water-powered sawmills made smaller and easier-to-handle dimensional lumber cheaply. Railroads permitted sawmills to ship the new lumber wherever it was needed (as opposed to utilizing the trees that grew on the building site). A new framing system (balloon framing) using standard 2×4 lumber nailed together to form a light framework didn’t require the skilled craftsmen that timber framing demands. Then, in about 1880, the proverbial nail in the coffin: we invented machines to make wire nails (nails used to be so valuable that after a fire people would sift through the ashes to recover the wrought iron nails).

In the 1970s, builders rediscovered the allure of timber framing while taking down old houses and barns. Ever since, a small but enthusiastic group of craftspeople worldwide—including our team at Carolina Timberworks—have continued to dedicate themselves to this building method.

Timber Framing Traditions

Building a timber frame structure is a fascinating process that involves a long list of traditions. The most important? The raising of course. On raising day, you get to see your dreams and hard work realized.

Not too long ago, raising involved ropes and pulleys and feeding a whole team of very hungry people. As the structure was raised, the community could see the building come to life and celebrate all the hard work with a feast. 

Today, we have machinery and safety meetings to make the job a little bit easier. But we still honor the traditions. After all, why not celebrate your new timber frame home or building in style?

Some other timber traditions include:

• Carving the date into the frame once it’s complete and signing the timber in a hidden place.
• Placing a coin minted in the same year as the structure under a post.
• There’s a superstition that feeding a timber framer will give you and your building good luck. What can we say? Timber framers always appreciate a good meal.
• Everyone loves to see how their hard work turned out. After that timber frame is raised, it’s a tradition to take a group photo.
• The lady of the house has the honor of driving the last peg. For every blow it takes to drive the peg home, she owes the crew one drink. 
• When building a new structure, timber framers have historically attached a wetting bush to the highest point to symbolize its roots.

We Build Cool Timber Frame Projects

For almost 20 years, Carolina Timberworks has collaborated with some of the country’s most talented architects and builders to craft timber frame homes and businesses, timber frame barns (including the largest horse barn in the United States), porches, porte-cochères, tree houses, entryways, natatoriums, pavilions, and even the world’s best mailbox post. We’ve worked for billionaires and non-millionaires alike. From New York to Nebraska to Washington State. Take a look at the cool stuff we’ve built in North Carolina where we’re located and beyond.

Remember Lao Tzu’s words: “A successful first step is always preceded by great questions“. Call us. We’re nice.

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Wood trusses, whether structural or decorative, are usually named in one of five ways: 1. from the construction in which they are used; as in, roof truss or bridge truss, etc.;  2. from their form; as in, lenticular truss, etc.; 3. from their resemblance to certain objects; as in, scissors truss, etc.; 4. from some prominent feature in their construction; as in, king post truss, hammer beam trusses, etc.; 5. from the person by whom they were in invented; as in, Howe truss, etc. (adapted from the Funk & Wagnalls Company 1943 Standard Dictionary of the English Language)

What Types of Timber Frame Trusses Are There?

Queen Post Truss

The queen post truss with with paired queen posts is a classic truss design, with many variations. The basic double posted version may also have a horizontal crossmember between the two verticals. Additionally, diagonal braces and/or struts may be added for increased strength and visual appeal.

Queen Post Truss with Straining Beam

The queen post truss with straining beam between the tops of the posts (the true queen post truss), forms a configuration capable of much longer spans. Wood trusses of this type have been developed for distances over 50′. Straightforward geometry and pleasing lines make it timeless and honest.

Queen Post Truss with Purlins and Common Rafters

Queen post trusses can be integrated with smaller members to form a more complex roof system. In this version, purlins are placed between wood trusses, to support pairs of common rafters above. These 3 components merge aesthetics and structure to create a striking multi-layered timber frame roof. Note that the tops of the purlins are a great place to hide indirect lighting.

King Post Truss

The king post truss with struts is popular, timeless, very strong, and an elegantly simple truss design. This style can be embellished with radius cuts on the struts and a through tenon at the base of the king post (as pictured above). This truss is very adaptable with regard to desired span and roof pitch.

King Post Truss With Struts and Queen Posts

The king post truss with struts & queen posts is based on the popular king post truss design, but with the addition of two queen posts (pictured above). This timber truss is also very strong, and adaptable with regard to desired span and roof pitch. This arrangement is particularly good for longer timber frame truss spans (in excess of 24’ feet).

King Post Truss With Extra Bolsters

The king post truss with extra bolsters builds on a favorite timber truss design with two added bolsters on the underside of the bottom horizontal chord for a heftier look. These mirror image pieces added to the underside of the bottom chord can provide a stepped transition to the vertical wall plane. The bolsters can have a wide variety of decorative profiles cut into their visible ends. Twin metal straps can also be banded around both the bolster and the bottom chord for a craftsman detail.

Arch Chord King Post Truss

An arch chord king post truss is another variation on the classic king post style, this time with an arched lower chord. This design adds a curvilinear element into the ceiling space instead of the standard horizontal timber, raising the structure somewhat and giving some extra volume below. Some of our clients have pointed out how the curves in this timber frame truss soften the lines and convey a natural aesthetic (after all, there are very few straight lines in nature). The radius cut for the arch should be shallow in order to be cut out of solid sawn timber. However, more semi-circular arches can be accommodated by using a grain matched glue laminated arch material (this is considerably more expensive than solid sawn timber).

Arch Chord With Queen Posts Timber Frame Truss

The arch chord with queen posts timber frame truss is another variation on the classic king post style, this time with twin vertical queen posts. This design adds more vertical elements above the arched bottom chord with the extra volume below. The radius cut for the arch should be shallow in order to be cut out of solid sawn timber. We like to use a spline tenon to joint the 2 half arches to the base of the king post. On larger spans, this configuration often requires concealed steel connectors to resist tension and spreading along the arch itself.

Scissors Truss

A scissors truss is a traditional truss style with many variations, this design can be used in small or large spans. Scissors trusses are not recommended for shallow roof pitches ( below 8/12 pitch ). We like to add the queen posts on either side of the central king posts. These timber frame trusses have a more complicated geometry with many angled intersections and a higher center for added space.

Hammer Beam Truss

A hammer beam truss is based on the more elaborate hammer beam timber frame bent design. The combination of heavy timber and metal tie rods and turnbuckle is not only appealing but is often required to handle the spreading forces this configuration will develop. In case you were wondering, a hammer beam is a short beam projecting laterally from the inside of a wall, and serving as a tie beam.

Hammer Beam Truss

A hammer beam truss, pictured above, is a beautiful and more complicated design, and creates dramatic vaulted spaces. There are many ways to embellish this design, from through tenons and radius cuts to decorative pendants or finials. The hammer beam bent is often associated with religious structures, great halls, or great rooms. Without a metal tie rod and turnbuckle, deep wall posts and/or concealed steel connectors are needed to handle the forces this configuration will develop.

Truss with Purlins

Truss and purlins: adding purlins between heavy timber trusses is an elegant way to reduce the cost of a timber frame roof because purlins permit an increased on-center distance between trusses (so you purchase fewer trusses). An added benefit are the strong lines that purlins create by running parallel to the ridge beam(s). (Another benefit is that purlins are a great place for placing LED lighting fixtures). Purlins often sit in pockets cut into the truss rafters (as shown) but can also sit on top of the truss rafter to create a secondary layer to the roof structure. There are some span restrictions based on the purlin size ( beam width x depth) and how close they are together. This is a very traditional concept in heavy timber roof framing. (purlins are a series of horizontal timbers laid across (or connected to, as depicted above), the principal rafters, and support the roof covering–typically 2×6 tongue and groove boards, conventional or structural insulated panels (SIPs), and roofing)

Truss Roof With Ridge Beams and Common Rafters

A truss roof with ridge beams and common rafters can provide a larger space between each truss. We like common rafters between each truss thereby giving a rhythm to the roof structure. The common rafters are often smaller than the truss timbers to differentiate between the primary and secondary timber frame elements.

Truss Roof With Ridge Beam, Purlins, and Common Rafters

A truss roof with ridge beam, purlins, and common rafters is a stunning combination that creates visual interest and structural complexity. There is a hierarchy of timber framing at work here, with trusses supporting the ridge and purlin beams. Above these components is a rack of common rafters. Typically wooden trusses are made from the biggest timbers, followed by intermediate sized ridge and purlins followed by the common rafters as the smallest timbers. One of our favorite combinations!

Bridge Trusses

The Howe, Warren, and Queen Post Parallel Chord Trusses, sometimes referred to as Bridge Trusses are relatively simple designs used in the construction of everything from the earliest 19th century modern bridges to WW II aircraft hangars. They’re efficient, strong, and characterized by the joining of numerous smaller members into a series of interconnected triangles. In addition to being a proven way to solve the engineering problem of long spans, we think they look great in modern timber framing (see an example here) and are one of the best examples of form following function.

Cruck Frame Bent

Cruck Frames, found primarily in the UK, were the original A-frame. According to Cruck Building: A Survey, the definitive definition of a cruck is as follows: “a true cruck consists of a pair of timbers (blades), straight or curved, serving as the principals of a roof, and stretching to point at or close to the apex of the roof, from a level well down the side walls.”

Learn More: Our Timber Frame Glossary

From raw timber to complete structures, see timber framing in action

Copyright 2019 Carolina Timberworks. All rights reserved. Illustrations by Eric Lubsen.

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